Looking at the "birth chart" of Iraq, the regime born from the slaughter of monarchy, we see regal Leo rising with Uranus near the ascendant.
As unrest and disturbances mar our peace, even with an uneasy agreement met, as the U.S. still prepares to follow through on their threat to force Iraq to honor their commitments, we look at this chart and search for clues as to the final outcome.
I'm not a mundane astrologer and don't pretend to be one, but one or two points are very obvious in this chart.
As these final few days of February grind by, with a significant eclipse at 7 Pisces 55, we would assume that the eclipse point would be accentuated. But, we don't see that at all.
What we DO see is that Iraq has Uranus at 10' 39" Leo and currently Uranus is at 10' 21" Aquarius, approaching exact opposition the first week of March. If this was a man's chart I'd say "Sweetie, your restlessness and inability to get along with people right now is usually called 'mid-life crisis', and as this falls in your natal 7th house, relationships need to be revamped, rethought, and changed."
Iraq is not a man, however, who can act out this relationship tension by a divorce, dropping his friends, buying a new sports car, or renegotiating his marital situation. As we who have dealt with our own Uranus opposition, or suffered through that aspect with others close know, the subject can seem to be a bit "contrary", "willful", and "eccentric", but may also be struggling to break away from chains that bind and appear to hold him back. Once the chains are broken a new, and perhaps, improved, persona emerges.
War broke out September of 1980 when progressed Mars approached a square to this same natal Uranus. This was shortly after Saddam Hussein came to leadership. The unrest with neighboring Iran continued over the next several years.
However, now the progressions show no Mars activity, except an approaching quincunx to natal Saturn. Then there is the transit of Saturn through the 9th house in Aries about to slow down the natal Mars at 25. That should effectively tie Iraq's hands from being able to use weapons, and perhaps mean some unpleasant public opinion and adverse publicity regarding Iraq's religious fervor and relations with it's neighbors. (Look at the Mars opposite Jupiter and consider the religious controversy and animosity with neighbors.)
What do I see good about the progressed chart? Progressed Venus on the ascendant, at birth in the 11th, may bring humanitarian issues into play and a desire for brotherhood. Iraq may seem a very "attractive" ally, a source of wealth, and more amiable in the future as "she" is wooed by nations hungry for her favors. The progressed Moon moves through the house of education and children so these considerations may weigh heavily with public sentiment: Iraq may back down from war to keep her children safe. And that same Venus is within a few degrees of conjuncting natal Uranus, auguring well for future peace with Iraq's allies. (Uranus rules Iraq's house of relationships and partnerships)
Will Iraq toe the line and behave now that the U.N. has stepped in to stop this willful display of independence? I doubt it. Or at least not until Uranus quits the tango across 10 fixed. Uranus dances to 12' 44" Aquarius then abruptly stops in mid May, all dancers move the other direction, reconsidering their moves, then Uranus re-opposes Iraq's 10 degree placement in August. The dance swings back again into forward motion on October 18 within a few minutes of Iraq's descendant. Uranus finishes the final steps of the tango, and Iraq's mid-life crisis, on Christmas 1998.
One would hope that would be all, but no, Iraq has Mercury at 14 Leo, ruling finances, friends, and goals, and the next year will have the dance continuing, just in a different ballroom.
While all the disruption and consciousness raising is going on, while Iraq struggles to maintain it's own freedoms while balancing the need for the rights of others, and allies are changed, renegotiated, and refreshed, Saturn will criss-cross the Iraq MC. If this were a person I'd want to say, "Sweetie, a time is coming when your investments, your children, and your reputation will be on the line. If you've been honest and above board this should be a time of reward for accomplishment. In matters of publicity, reputation, and career, you'll get EXACTLY the recognition you deserve."
Certainly, Iraq is a belligerent nation having Sun square Mars; full of wild enthusiasms and an inflated sense of it's own importance, with the Sun square Jupiter; and it's a country rebellious and appreciative of freedoms, with Uranus rising, but the Sun is progressing into sensible Virgo, approaching a trine to the MC.
The basic nature will never change, yet great changes ARE at work as we speak: Pluto trines the Iraq ascendant, forever transforming their being because of their need to join with others in cooperation to utilize their resources creatively; Uranus opposes the Iraq ascendant---they find their willfulness matched and then some, by others with whom they must deal; and how can we forget Neptune approaching both the Iraq descendant as well as the approaching Neptune square Neptune which will dissolve all their delusions, illusions, and make them look long and hard at their heritage whether land or people?
No war seen here, just a loose cannon requiring a bit of restraint, and the education to move into the 20th century. The Iraq nation has met their match in an adversary called Uranus in Aquarius, very strong in it's own sign, and very dignified.
Copyrights Reserved by Bette Denlinger 1998. This article may not be reproduced in any form without express written permission from the author.
